Jeremy Cooney lays out his new transportation vision for New York

State Sen. Jeremy Cooney was recently named the new state Senate Transportation Committee chair, taking over for former state Sen. Tim Kennedy who recently won a seat in Congress. The Rochester-based lawmaker said he has a lot to learn but that his background, as someone who has lived in several regions of the state and sampled all of its transit options, gives him a unique perspective as he plans to add his voice to the state’s transportation plans.

Though the idea of new technology excites Cooney, it goes beyond a fancy new rail line or expanded airport terminals. In his eyes, transportation can be used as a tool, like affordable housing, to empower New Yorkers economically and give them more options…